Industrial burner

Abstract

An industrial burner assembly comprising a manifold with a fuel inlet and a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of elongated burners positioned radially about the longitudinal axis having fuel ports in communication with the manifold and fuel inlet, wherein each elongated burner has an outer mixing tube, an inner mixing tube positioned coaxially within the outer mixing tube to form an annular space therebetween in communication with the fuel port, the inner mixing tube having an inner surface forming a passage for air flow through the burner assembly, and a plurality of apertures formed in the inner mixing tube to allow introduction of fuel from the annular space into the air flow passage to provide for efficient mixture of air and fuel in the burner assembly prior to combustion.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An industrial burner assembly comprising at least one elongated burner, wherein each said at least one elongated burner comprises: 
       an outer mixing tube having a longitudinal axis;  
       an inner mixing tube positioned coaxially about said longitudinal axis at least partially within said outer mixing tube to form an annular space therebetween, said inner mixing tube having an inside surface and a plurality of apertures;  
       an outlet ring member having an inside surface defining a centrally-located opening, and a rear surface with a first seat portion in sealing engagement with a forward end of said inner mixing tube and a second seat portion in sealing engagement with a forward end of said outer mixing tube; and  
       an inlet ring member having an inside surface defining a centrally-located opening a rear surface, a forward surface with a first seat portion in sealing engagement with a rear end of said inner mixing tube and a second seat portion in sealing engagement with a rear end of said outer mixing tube, said inside surfaces of said inlet ring member, said inner mixing tube, and said outlet ring member being aligned to form a passage for air flow therethrough, and a port communicating with said annular space, wherein said port is in communication with a source of fuel such that said fuel can flow through said annular space and through said apertures into said passage to intermix with air flowing through said passage.  
     
     
       2. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 1  wherein said at least one elongated burner further comprises a vortex plate connected to said rear surface of said inlet ring member across said centrally-located opening to swirl air flowing through said passage. 
     
     
       3. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 2  wherein said vortex plate is sized to control the amount of air flow through said passage. 
     
     
       4. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 2  wherein said vortex plate has a planar portion and a pair of downwardly inclined fin portions extending from opposite sides of said planar portion. 
     
     
       5. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 4  wherein said vortex plate comprises a generally circular center and a pair of opposing generally v-shaped arms extending outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       6. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 2  wherein said apertures are tangentially angled to enhance the swirl of air flowing through said passage. 
     
     
       7. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 1  wherein said first seat portion comprises a first recess for slidingly receiving said forward end of said inner mixing tube. 
     
     
       8. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 4  wherein said second seat portion comprises a second recess for slidingly receiving said forward end of said outer mixing tube. 
     
     
       9. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 1  wherein said at least one elongated burner further comprises means for securing said inner and outer mixing tubes in sealing engagement with said inlet and outlet ring members. 
     
     
       10. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 9  wherein said means for securing comprises a pair of connecting rods disposed between said inner and outer mixing tubes, each said rod having a first end passing through one of a pair of holes in said inlet ring member intermediate said first and second seat portions, and a second end passing through one of a pair of holes in said outlet ring member intermediate said first and second seat portions, each said first end and said second end threadingly receiving a fastener. 
     
     
       11. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 2  wherein said inner mixing tube is longer than said outer mixing tube, said second seat portion of said inlet ring member is positioned forward of said first seat portion of said inlet ring member relative to said longitudinal axis, and said fuel port communicates with said annular space through a cavity formed between a portion of said inner mixing tube and said inlet ring member. 
     
     
       12. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 2  wherein said inner mixing tube is the same length as said outer mixing tube and said fuel port communicates with said annular space through an orifice formed in said outer mixing tube. 
     
     
       13. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 2  wherein said burner assembly further comprises a manifold with a fuel inlet and a longitudinal axis, at least four elongated burners positioned radially about the manifold longitudinal axis having said fuel ports of each said at least four elongated burners in communication with said manifold, and a frame member connecting the outlet ring members of said at least four elongated burners. 
     
     
       14. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 13  wherein said at least four elongated burners are positioned symmetric about a horizontal plane passing through said longitudinal axis of said manifold. 
     
     
       15. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 13  wherein said at least four elongated burners are positioned symmetric about a vertical plane passing through said longitudinal axis of said manifold. 
     
     
       16. An industrial burner assembly comprising at least one elongated burner, wherein each said at least one elongated burner comprises: 
       an inner mixing tube having a forward end, a rear end, a longitudinal axis, an inner surface defining a passage for air flow therethrough, and a plurality of apertures formed in said inner surface,  
       an outer mixing tube positioned coaxially about said longitudinal axis to form an annular space between said inner mixing tube and said outer mixing tube, said outer mixing tube and said annular space having a forward end and a rear end,  
       first sealing means for enclosing said forward end of said annular space,  
       second sealing means for enclosing said rear end of said annular space, and  
       a port communicating with said annular space, wherein said port is in communication with a source of fuel such that said fuel can flow through said annular space and through said apertures into said passage to intermix with air flowing through said passage.  
     
     
       17. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 16  wherein said burner assembly further comprises a vortex plate and means for affixing said vortex plate to said burner assembly in a position to swirl air flowing through said passage. 
     
     
       18. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 17  wherein said vortex plate is sized to control the amount of air flow through said passage. 
     
     
       19. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 17  wherein said vortex plate has a planar portion and a pair of downwardly inclined fin portions extending from opposite sides of said planar portion. 
     
     
       20. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 19  wherein said vortex plate comprises a generally circular center and a pair of opposing generally v-shaped arms extending outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       21. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 16  wherein said apertures are tangentially angled to enhance the swirl of air flowing through said passage. 
     
     
       22. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 16  wherein said burner assembly further comprises a manifold with a fuel inlet and a longitudinal axis, and at least four elongated burners positioned radially about the manifold longitudinal axis having said fuel ports of each said at least four elongated burners in communication with said manifold. 
     
     
       23. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 22  wherein said at least four elongated burners are positioned symmetric about a horizontal plane passing through said longitudinal axis of said manifold. 
     
     
       24. An industrial burner assembly as described in  claim 22  wherein said at least four elongated burners are positioned symmetric about a vertical plane passing through said longitudinal axis of said manifold.